Apparatus for utilizing drip in high-pressure steam systems



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,143

' c. w. E. CLARKE I APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING DRIP IN HIGH PRESSURE STEAK SYSTEIS Filed Jan. 11. 1922 In 7/ entoi Patented Feb. 5,1929.

UNITED STATES CHARLES W. E. CLARKE, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING DRIP IN HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM SYSTEMS.

Application filed January 11, 1922. Serial No. 528,398. 1

In steam systems of the more important commercial types ithas been customary heretofore to collect the drip or condensation in the steam lines and conduct it to one or more steam traps arranged to automatically discharge from time to time. As the commercial pressures have increased, however, it has been found that the troubles with such drip systems have increased immensely, due particularly to leakage in the steam traps, porosity of the castings, collapsing of the floats, and the like.

The present invention deals with the handling of the drip or condensation in high pressure steam systems and it has for its general object to overcome the difliculties experienced in using trap systems. The invention also aims to utilize the drip in a manner which will increase the efliciency of the steam system, and to devise an apparatus for handling the drip which will be more economical to install than the trap systems heretofore used.

The natureofthe invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularlypointed out in the appended claims. 1

The single figure of the drawings illustrates an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention. 1

Referring to the drawings, the apparatu there shown comprises a tank or container 2 which is connected by means of a pipe 3 to the drip header that drains a high pressure steam system, this container being so located that the drip from the entire system, or a given section thereof, drains into it. A water column 4 is connected to the container 2 by upper and lower pipes 5 and 6, respectively, and this column preferably is provided with a water gage 7 to indicate the level of the water in the container. .A pipe 8 connects the upper end of the water column 4 with the pipe 3. A nozzle 10 having a restricted orifice therein is connected through a valve12 and pipes 13 and 14 with a low pressure steam receiver 15 shown, in this instance, as a pipe leading to the auxiliary exhaust main. Another nozzle 16 is connected between the pipes 14 and 15 through the valve 17 I When the apparatus is in operation water collects in the container 2, this water being under the pressure that exists in the high pressure system. Assuming that the valve 1 perature than the temperature of steam at 1 the pressure existing in the receiver 15, and its total heat is greater. Thesteani thus created, therefore, can be used for any desired purposefor which the exhaust steam of the system is used, for instance, for heating feed water. 1 The orifice of the nozzle 10 preferably is made of a size suitable to take care of at least the greater part of the requirements of the system. It will not, however, passthe drip as fast as it collects under some conditions, and an automatic mechanism. therefore is provided to bring the nozzle 16 into operation and to cut it out again as required by the quantity of water collected in the container 2. In this arrangement the valve 17 is operated by an automatic feed water regulator of the type widely used, that shown being the Copes boiler feed regulator. This regulator comprises an inclinedexpansion tube 25 supported in a triangular frame consisting of a base 26, a forked upright 27 at one end of this base, and a tension rod 28 forming the other side of the triangle. The upper end of this tube is connected to the steam space in the receptacle 2 and its lower end is connected to a point in the receptacle below the lowest water level, while the two ends of the tube are located at substantially the water levels which it is desired to have maintained in the receptacle. The lower end of the expansion tube abuts against a bracket fast on the base 26, and the upper end of said tube carries: a fitting which bears against the short arm of a bell crank lever 30 that is fulcrumed in the upper forked end of the upright 27. Thelong arm of this lever 30 is connected by means of. a link 31 maximum and minimum with a lever or arm 32 which operates the balanced valve 17. I

So long as the water level in the receptacle 2 remains below a predetermined point, the valve 17 will remain closed, the nozzle 10 taking the, entire flow between t e r cepta le 2 and the conduit 15. The tube 25 at this time is filled with steam and consequently is expanded. As the water level in the container 2 rises, however, and fills a portion of the length of the tube 25, this tube will contract due to the fact that the water is somewhat cooler than the steam and when the water level rises to a predetermined point the tube will shorten sufiiciently to cause the valve 17 to open, thus bringing the nozzle 16 into operation. When the water level drops again to a predetermined degree the valve 17 will be automatically shut. This system thus is entirely automatic and requires no attention other than the usual inspection.

In case the quantity of water handled is relatively small, but varies considerably in volume, the valve 12 may be closed and the nozzle 16 relied upon entirely to handle the flow, this nozzle being brought into and out of operation automatically through. the action of the regulator, as above described.

Not all of the water that passes through the connections between the container 2 and receiver 15 will be converted into steam, and the water which is not so converted is drained off through a pipe 21 equipped with suitable valves which lead to the discharge loop. The pressure on this water is very low indeed so that there is no difliculty in handling it with pumps or traps.

lVhile I prefer to use a nozzle such as that indicated at 10 or 16, designed to produce the maximum rev-evaporating or flashing efiect, it is not absolutely necessary to use such a nozzle, although improved results are obtained by its use. It will be appreciated, however, that this system avoids completely the use of traps subjected to high steam pressure, and that in place of such traps an apparatus is used which is very simple to construct, install, and operate. The troubles heretofore experienced with trap systems, therefore, are completely eliminated, and in addition to this, the supply of low pressure steam is increased, with a rc sultant improvement in the economy of the steam system. The only water of condensation that must be handled with traps or pumps in this system is at such a low tcmperature and pressure that there is no diili culty in handling it satisiliactorily. Any steam leakage which. may occur through the valves that control the fiow of steam is sinn ply passed into the low pressure exhaust system where it is available for use. This is not usually the case in trap installations.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of the invention of which I- am at present aware, it will readily be appreciated that the invention may be modified in many forms differing in details from those shown without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It will also be appreciated that while I have described the process provided by this invention in connect-ion with the description of apparatus shown, that the process is independent of any specific form of apparatus and may be practiced with the aid of a great variety of forms of apparatus diltering substantially from each other.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a high, pressure steam system, the combination of a container connected with the high pressure steam line to receive the drip therefrom, a low pressure steam conductor, a connection for continuously discharging drip from said container into said conductor at a restricted rate, a second connection for discharging the drip from said container into said conductor, and means for utilizing the expansion and contraction of a member caused by changes in level oi the drip in said container to automatically control the discharge of drip through said second connection.

2. In a high pressure steam system, the combination oft container connected with the high pressure steam line to receive the drip therefrom, a low pressure steam conductor, a connection for continuously discharging drip trom said container into said conductor at a restricted rate, said connection including a nozzle having a restricted orifice and constructed to facilitate the flashing of said drip into steam as it flows into said conductor, a second connection for conducting drip from said container into said conductor, a valve in said second connection, and a regulator responsive to changes in level of the drip in said container for operating said valve to control the If charge of drip through said second connection, said regulator being constructed to operate by the expansion and contraction of an element thereof due to changes in level oi the drip in said container.

In a high pressure steam system, the combination of a container connected with the high pressure steam line to receive the drip therefrom, a. low pressure steam conductor, a connection for discharging the drip from said container into said coiuluclor whereby the energy in the drip from the high pressure steam will be utilized in converting a substantial part of the drip into low pressure steam as it flows into said low pressure conductor, and means for utilizing the difference in temperature of the drip and the steam in said high pressure system to automatically vary the rate of discharge of the drip into said conductor in response to changes in level of the drip in said container.

CHARLES IV. E. CLARKE. 

